Honey News You Can Use

Raw Honey is one of the most amazing products there is. It is the concentrated nectar of flowers that comes straight from the extractor. Raw honey is unheated, pure, unpasteurized, unprocessed. It gets its sweetness from the monosaccharide fructose and glucose. Characterized by fine textured crystals, raw honey looks milkier and contains particles and flecks made of bee pollen, honeycomb bits, propolis, and broken bee wing fragments. Raw and unfiltered honey has high amounts of antioxidant, small levels of the vitamins B1, B2, C, B6, B5 and B3, which amounts vary depending on the qualities of the nectar. It also contains pollen as well as trace levels of magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium chlorine, sulphur, iron and phosphate and several kinds of hormones.

Most honeys found in supermarkets are not raw. “Commercial" honey, has been heated and filtered so that it looks cleaner and smoother, more appealing on the shelf, and easier to handle and package. When honey is heated, its delicate aromas, yeast and enzymes, which are responsible for activating vitamins and minerals within our body system are partially destroyed. Therefore, such honey is less nutritious than raw honey.

The benefits of honey however go far beyond its delicious taste. A great natural source of carbohydrates, honey provides strength and energy to our bodies. Honey is known for its effectiveness in instantly boosting performance, endurance and in reducing muscle fatigue in athletes. Honey does not contribute to unstable blood sugar levels as much as other types of sugar do.

Honey’s applications have been used by all known ancient civilizations. Here are a few ways how you can apply some of honeys healing properties for yourself.

Allergies: If you eat honey that is local to your area, it may help prevent your seasonal allergies. Bees use the pollen from local plants and eventually it ends up in your honey.

Sore Throat: Honey has powerful antimicrobial properties, which can soothe your raw tissues. Mix the juice of half a lemon with 1 tablespoon raw honey. Swallow the mixture (without water) every few hours until symptoms clear up. (You may add a pinch of chili powder or red pepper to increase blood circulation to the throat.)

Open Wounds and Burns: Due to its natural anti-inflammatory, anti-septic, anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, raw honey will help to heal the wounds more quickly. Honey not only prevents infections, it also accelerates skin healing. Since the sugar in honey absorbs water, it helps to trap some of the moisture so that the bacteria and other microbes can’t grow as easily. (There are more than 600 cases cited in medical journals in which honey was employed to treat wounds.)

Stomach Pain: Honey diluted in warm water may help with your stomachaches.

Ulcers: Honey may be effective in the treatment of ulcers. In Europe, honey has been used internally to help cure ulcers, particularly stomach ulcers. Burns, too, heal better with honey, studies show.

Nourishing Mask for Sensitive Skin
Mix 1 / 3 cup finely ground oatmeal, 3 tablespoons Really Raw Honey, or enough to make a smooth paste. Blend oatmeal with honey until well mixed. If too thick and unmanageable, add a little rose water or orange flower water. Spread over clean face with the exception of your eyes and leave on for ½ hour. Relax while it is on. After removal apply a good astringent to tone the skin.